California’s Election Aftermath: Trust, Turnout, and the Road to November

California's June primary election is in the books, but the political debates are just getting started.

Mark Simon and Bob Marks are joined by former Belmont mayor and political analyst Charles Stone for a wide-ranging discussion on the aftermath of California's primary election, the controversy surrounding vote counting timelines, public trust in elections, and what the results may signal for the 2026 midterms.

The conversation explores whether California's lengthy vote-counting process is undermining confidence in elections, how Democrats and Republicans are positioning themselves heading into November, and what lessons can be learned from key statewide races. The panel also examines affordability, taxes, voter behavior, messaging, and the evolving political landscape in California and across the country.

Locally, the discussion turns to San Mateo County races, surprising election outcomes, tax measures, city council contests, and what voters can expect in the months ahead.

Topics Include:

California's vote-counting process and election trustTrump, election skepticism, and public perceptionPotential Supreme Court impacts on voting rulesMidterm election outlook for Democrats and RepublicansCalifornia governor's race analysisAffordability and tax measuresSan Mateo County election resultsThe power of name recognition in local politicsDistrict elections and upcoming city council racesWhat to watch heading into NovemberSubscribe for more conversations on California politics, national issues, and the people shaping both.

The Game is hosted by Mark Simon and Bob Marks and produced by Frank Bravo, BravoITC.com and YourTechMakeover.com.

You can see more information about The Game at TheGamePeninsula.com.

(00:00) - Introduction & Election Recap Overview

(01:03) - Why Does California Take So Long to Count Votes?

(04:01) - Public Trust, Election Perception & Vote-by-Mail Debate

(08:23) - Is California's Election System Actually Secure?